Five Unmovable Principles
Have you read Finding Organic Church by Frank Viola yet? I recommend it – he has steadily grown on me over his last several works, and this is his most practical and reasonable book on the world of starting and sustaining authentic Christian communities.
Viola devotes a whole section of his book to “Practical Steps for Beginning.” His first chapter in that section, “Five Unmovable Principles” is what I want to mention briefly in this post.
These are 5 values, or goals that each person in a house church MUST strive for as they are starting a new community together. Otherwise, it is certainly doomed to become another pet project, run by men and not by God. Viola says that embracing these principles however, will help a community avoid the major pitfalls and disappointments that so many house churches are hammered with in their first year.
…I would say that after years of helping plant house churches, seeing some fail and some thrive, that his list dead on.
They are:
- Become like little children.
- Your feelings will get hurt.
- Be patient with the progress of the group.
- People will leave your group.
- People will experience exciting spiritual growth and healing!
You may have been a spiritual guru in your last church or at seminary, but now you’re called to drop your agenda, gifts, ambitions and simply be a humble sibling in the Lord.  Unlearn as much as you can at the start. Lean on Christ alone.
People will let you down, and you will disappoint others – no getting around it. You will not get your own way. Strangely you will be most offended by the vices in others that most reflect your own. When someone hurts your feelings, that is the moment to see exactly what kind of person you are and want to become in Jesus.
This may be “simple church” but its not simplistic, and its not a microwave! It took 9 months for you to be born, its similar with an organic church. All the unlearning and rebuilding going on in hearts of your church family takes time. Certainly everyone’s clock is not the same as yours, but never fear – there is progress – visible or not.
Be honest, working towards a house church with no regular sermon, large-group worship, children’s classes, etc is a tough shift for many Christians to make – even non-Christians have certain expectations for what “church” is in America. WHEN (not if) people “check you out” and then “shop elsewhere” do your best not to wish them anything but the best, do not judge their motives, and do not pressure them to stay. Maintain instead a liberal atmosphere of freedom and a presence of God’s Spirit.
Don’t forget that it is in this context that people were designed to grow. It is their natural habitat to flourish – socially, and spiritually. It is in intimate, small groups that transformation occurs – and it is in these committed families of love that hold the seeds to upend the world and transform it for GOOD. Watch with expectancy as lives are changed and healed, and as ideas for local mission and service are hatched!
Jay Abels, and 
Rachael are discussing.